Improvement in metallic fence-posts



:. BRINKLERHOFFL N.PETERS, PHOT-UTHOGRAPHER WASHINGTON, D C,

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

JACOB BRINKERHOFF, OF AUBURN, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN METALLIC FENCE-POSTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 189,918, dated Apri124,1877 application filed March 16, 1877.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JACOB BRINKERHOFF, ofAuburn, in the county of Cayuga and State of New York, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Metallic Fence-Posts and I dohereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art towhich it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to metallic fence-posts and it consists in asheet-metal fence-post 'having its base gradually twisted; also, inproviding such base, or the base and post, with a longitudinalcorrugation; also, in providing such post with slits or slots to receivethe band or fence rails 5 and, further, in cutting the flanges at thelower end of-the base, and bending them outward in opposite directions,all as hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the annexed drawing, Figures 1 and 2 are front views of my improvedmetallic fencepost. Fig. 3 is a side view thereof. Fig. 4

shows the base only.

A represents a fence-post, made of a single piece of sheet metal ofsuitable dimensions. The lower end of this post, which forms the base B,is gradually twisted either to the right or left, more or less, asdesired, so that when set in the ground the earth holds it down. By thistwisted form of the base, it will also be seen that the base presents aHat surface on all sides, so that in whatever direction any strain maybe put on the post, such strain or pulling will be against a broad, fiatsurface, and the post cannot be pulled over in any direetion.

To increase the strength and stiffness of the fence-post, one or morelongitudinal corrugations, a, are formed in the sheet metal,

and such corrugation or corrugations may extend the length of the baseonly, or the entire length of the base and post, as may be desired.

In one or both of the edges of the sheetmetal post A is formed a seriesof slits or slots, 11, to hold the band or fence rails 0. These slits orslots are preferably made L-shaped,

as shown, but may be of any suitable form to receive and hold theband-rails G.

By the above construction of fence-post it is rendered firm and durable,and can yet be,

sheet-metal fence-post. These lips 12' b may be attached to the base ofthe post, if desired, instead of being formed thereon.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A sheet-metal fence-post having its base gradually twisted,substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

2. A sheet-metal fence-post having its base twisted, and provided withone or more longitudinal corrugations extending the entire length of thebase, substantially as herein set forth.

3. A sheet-metal fence-post having a twisted base, and provided with oneor more longitudinal corrugations through the post and base,substantiallyas and for the purposes herein set forth.

4. A sheet-metal twisted fence-post having one or more longitudinalcorrugations, and a series of slits or slots in one or both of itsedges, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

5. A sheet-metal fence-post provided at the lower end of its base withlips I) b, projecting outward in opposite directions, as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

JACOB BEINKE' HOEE.

Witnesses O. E. STEVENS, WM. GEER.

